Institutional response to a natural hazard event: Cyclone Bola in retrospect

Abstract

On the 7th of March 1988, Cyclone Bola hit New Zealand. It was one of the most costly events this country has ever experienced. Cyclone Bola affected many parts of New Zealand from Northland to Westland. One of the areas where the worst damage occurred was the Gisborne East Cape region, which provides the focus of this research. The aim of this thesis is to assess the 'success' of response agencies in the Gisborne East Cape region in managing the impact of Cyclone Bola. Three objectives were established in order to achieve this aim: 1. Identify the level of preparedness of the response agencies before Cyclone Bola hit. 2. Assess the extent to which agencies responded to Cyclone Bola. (i.e. did they respond in all avenues they should have in terms of their designated functions, or were some functions not carried out?) 3. Analyse what changes to hazard management have occurred since the impact of Cyclone Bola. (i.e. are they more prepared now than they were before?) In order to achieve these objectives data have been collected by two methods, an extensive literature search and semi-structured interviews. The Natural Hazard Management Cycle was chosen as the most comprehensive framework against which to evaluate the response to Cyclone Bola. Management requirements were identified and the extent to which they were fulfilled during Cyclone Bola was assessed. Before the impact of Cyclone Bola, the response agencies were not fully prepared and did not respond to their fullest potential. As a result, the approaches they used were not as effective as they could have been. However, improvements have been made to the management of natural hazards in the Gisborne East Cape region. In the period since Cyclone Bola a number of major legislative changes affecting resource management and organisation of local government have occurred. These appear to have provided institutional structures and procedures which will not only reduce vulnerability within the region, but will allow more effective response to future emergencies. Overall, the region is more prepared today for the impact of a natural hazard, than they were eleven years ago.